Rhine Bike Path: Mainz to Cologne

4.6/5 (25)
6 nights
26 miles/day
Self guided from EUR € 719
Bike tour in Germany
Rider Level: Recreational Electric bike tours Primarily bike paths Family-friendly bike tours

Rhine Bike Path: Mainz to Cologne

4.6/5 (25)

Rider Level: Recreational Electric bike tours Primarily bike paths Family-friendly bike tours

6 nights
26 miles/day

Self guided from EUR € 719
Bike tour in Germany

Tap above to jump to different sections of this tour

  • Rhine Bike Path

    The Rhine bike trail from Mainz to Cologne is along the most beautiful part of the river. The hot springs and spas attracted the ancient Romans to the Rhine, and today vineyards and picturesque towns add to the region's charm.

    Admire this gorgeous landscape as you ride to Cologne, where you can see the cathedral spires tower over Germany's oldest city. Enjoy its innumerable cultural and historical treasures, world-famous museums, and active art scene.

    Life in Cologne is uncomplicated and vivacious. It's a wonderful town for the end of a fabulous tour.

    • Mainz, Germany. Michael Behrens@Unsplash
    • Stolzenfels Castle on the Rhine Bike Path: Mainz to Cologne Bike Tour
    • Schnitzel! Mark Konig@Unsplash
    • Boppard, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. CC:Tk
    • Rhine Bike Path: Mainz to Cologne Bike Tour
    • Wining & dining in Cologne, Germany. Celina Albertz@Unsplash
    • 'Fischmarkt' in the historic Old Town of Cologne, Germany. CC:achim Raschka
    • Vineyard grapes. Luca J@Unsplash

    View more photos

    Highlights

    • Roman-Germanic Central Museum in Mainz
    • Climb up to the Loreley
    • Cable car to "Vierseenblick"
    • Boat trip on Rhine
    • Cologne

    Learn More

    Learn more about self-guided tours or see more bike tours in Germany.

  • Traveler photos

    •  (photo by Rebecca Heersink)
    •  (photo by Rebecca Heersink)
    •  (photo by Rebecca Heersink)
    •  (photo by Rebecca Heersink)
    • Photo 1 (photo by Jim Gr)
    • Photo 2 (photo by Jim Gr)
    • Koblenz, Germany (photo by Jim Gr)
    • Koblenz, Germany (photo by Jim Gr)
    • Rhine River (photo by Jim Gr)
    • One gorgeous day (photo by luis1957)
    • In the woods (photo by luis1957)
    • Mute swan on the Rhine (photo by Martin)
    • Romanesque sculpture (photo by Martin)
    • One of many castles (photo by Martin)
    • Germania (photo by MikeSue5052)
    • On the ferry crossing the Rhine. (photo by krpete)
    • Typical view from the trail. (photo by krpete)
    • Through the woods. (photo by krpete)
    • Castles everywhere along the route. (photo by krpete)
    • High above the Rhine. Gorgeous! (photo by krpete)
    • Celebrating after another day's ride. (photo by krpete)
    • Mid-morning Apfelstrudel with beverage (photo by JustBob)
    • Just another pretty castle along the Rhine (photo by JustBob)
  • Daily program

    Day 1: Mainz
    Upon your arrival in Mainz, you should visit the Roman-Germanic Central Museum, Gutenberg Museum, Emperor's Cathedral and Electors Castle. Your rental bike will be awaiting you at the hotel for you to start enjoying a ride around Mainz at your leisure.
    Overnight in Mainz

    Day 2: Mainz – Rüdesheim (21-31 mi/35-49 km)
    The beautiful first stage leads through rolling vineyards and well-known wine villages. The Rhine flows unhurriedly, forming little islands and broadening its bed up to a width of 2600 ft/800 m. Before you reach Rüdesheim you may choose to ride an additional 9 mi/14 km to visit the half-timbered town of Eltville and Monastery Eberbach, which are both worth seeing. With plenty to do in Rüdesheim, you can walk around the vineyards, taste some local wines in one of the nice wine restaurants, or go up to the Niederwald monument by cable car.
    Overnight in Rudesheim

    Day 3: Rüdesheim – St. Goar (21 mi/34 km)
    Grand castles line today's route. You definitely should climb up to the Loreley! A hiking path leads up to this lovely spot and offers a beautiful view of the narrowest part of the romantic Rhine Valley.
    Overnight in St. Goar

    Day 4: St. Goar – Koblenz (22 mi/36 km)
    Further on in the narrow Rhine Valley, the route first heads to Boppard. If you wish you can go to Vierseenblick (Four Lake View) by cable car. Alternatively, you could choose to visit "Deutschen Eck" in Koblenz to see the well-preserved Castle Marksburg and Castle Stolzenfels.
    Overnight in Koblenz

    Day 5: Koblenz – Bad Godesberg (38 mi/61 km)
    You have so many options for stops along today's route, like cozy health resorts, inviting wine villages, thermal baths, and beer gardens. You can also choose to take a break from cycling and take an enjoyable boat trip on the Rhine. Between Koblenz and Bad Godesberg, anything is possible!
    Overnight in Bad Godesberg

    Day 6: Bad Godesberg – Cologne (27 mi/43 km)
    Bonn is an inviting stop along today's route and offers a view of Cologne Cathedral. Today's stage is not very long, and you'll have enough time to admire the many sights of Cologne.
    Overnight in Cologne

    Day 7: Cologne
    Nobody wants to leave, but after a week in the beautiful Rhine Valley the tour ends in Cologne.

    Surface and terrain

    The route along the Rhine runs almost exclusively on asphalted and paved hiking and biking trails or along quiet country roads. It is very relaxed riding. From Mainz to Bad Godesberg, the route is marked with white and green signs, which always identify the next town. There are also blue signs with a yellow bike pointing the way. On the last day cycling to Cologne, you will see the signs of the Rheinschiene route (square plates with blue wave symbol).

    Along the route there are good rail connections, so you can always take the train for some sections.


    Hotels

    These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.

    Category Charme:

    Mainz: Favorite Parkhotel Mainz

    Rudesheim: Breuer's Rüdesheim Castle

    St. Goar: Hotel Schloss Rheinfels

    Koblenz: Hotel Kleiner Riesen OR Mercure Hotel Koblenz

    Bad Godensburg: Boutique Hotel Dreesen

    Koln: Steigenberger Hotel Cologne

    Category A: 3- and 4-star comfortable, middle-class hotels

    Mainz: Hotel Advena Europa Hotel

    Rudesheim: Hotel Zum Baren

    St. Goar: Hotel Landsknecht

    Koblenz: Hotel Brenner

    Bad Godensburg: Hotel Zum Adler

    Koln: Hotel Coellner Hof

    Note: city taxes are not included in the cost of the tour and must be paid at hotel reception at check out (€1-5 per person/night).

    Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options


    How to get there

    Tour start
    Nearest airport: Frankfurt, Germany
    Nearest train station: Mainz, Germany

    Tour end
    Nearest airport: Cologne/Bonn or Frankfurt, Germany
    Nearest train station: Cologne, Germany

    A transfer is available from Cologne to Mainz, which departs Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11:00am and arrives at 2:00pm. It costs €89 per person, and has plenty of room for luggage and bikes (personal bike transfer: €30).

    Tips on getting to and from your tour


    Rhine Bike Path

     Tour Photos Dates & Prices 

  • Dates

    Daily: Apr 6 - Oct 12, 2024

    Season 1: Apr 6, 2024 - Apr 13, 2024; Oct 5, 2024 - Oct 12, 2024

    Season 2: Apr 14, 2024 - May 3, 2024; Sep 21, 2024 - Oct 4, 2024

    Season 3: May 4, 2024 - Jun 7, 2024; Jul 6, 2024 - Sep 20, 2024

    Season 4: Jun 8, 2024 - Jul 5, 2024

    Prices

    Tour package

    Per person, double occupancy Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4
    Cat Charme €999 €1149 €1199 €1299
    Cat A €749 €829 €869 €949
    Single use room (1 person/1 room)
    Cat Charme €1349 €1499 €1549 €1649
    Cat A €989 €1069 €1109 €1189

    Bike Rentals

    Standard touring bike, 27-speed €99
    Electrically assisted bike €259

    Extra Nights, Mainz

    Cat Charme Cat A
    Per person, double occupancy €119 €79
    Single use room (1 person/1 room) €179 €119

    Extra Nights, Cologne

    Cat Charme Cat A
    Per person, double occupancy €119 €79
    Single use room (1 person/1 room) €179 €119

    Transfer

    Return to Mainz, per person (available on Wednesdays/Saturdays, 11am) €95
    Return to Mainz, per person and including personal bike (available on Wednesdays/Saturdays, 11am) €135

    Included services

    • 6 nights accommodation in selected hotel category
    • Breakfast each day
    • Luggage transfer (2 pieces per person, max 20 kg per piece)
    • Map of bike trails with marked route
    • Navigational app
    • 7 day a week service hotline (8am-7pm) available in case of emergencies
    • Tips on tour preparation
    • Tourist information

    Note: city taxes are not included in the cost of the tour and must be paid at hotel reception at check out (€1-5 per person/night).


    Bike rentals

    Bikes available to rent on this tour (reserved at time of booking):

    • Standard touring bike, 27-speed
    • Electrically assisted bike*, FLYER C-Series
    • Children's bikes and equipment (upon request)

    *More about electrically-assisted bikes >

    Equipment available:

    • Bike trailer, child seat, or tag-along
    • Saddle bag (rear, side)
    • Repair kit
    • Map holder
    • Lights
    • Mudguards
    • Reflectors
    • Carriers
    • Lateral kickstands
    • Lock

    Pedals:
    The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.

    Helmets:
    Helmets are not available to rent. We recommend that you bring or buy your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes.


    Tour Company


    Rhine Bike Path

     Daily program Route Map 

  • Route Map

    Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.


    Rhine Bike Path

     Dates & Prices Tour Reviews 

    • Jimmie Ring 6 months ago

      Self guided tour of the Rhine

      My spouse and I elected to take a self guided tour of the Rhine from Mainz to Cologne. We could not have been happier with the support, hotels or the route. The daily length of the ride was PERFECT for allowing plenty of time to explore along the way. The hotels were awesome - located always close to the things we wanted to see, comfortable, and breakfasts were fantastic. The support- from the information provided before the tour to the daily pickup and drop off of luggage - was perfection. The bikes were also very good and comfortable. We were very happy with the whole experience.

      What was the date of your tour?
      August 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Peter Dworkin 7 months ago

      Beautiful scenery; great bikes

      Relaxing and fun trip. Great bikes. Attractive hotels. Good itinerary. Negatives: Navigation app. Need to provide turn by turn instructions that integrate with Google maps. Would have preferred all hotels to be in cute small towns. Some were in modern less charming bigger towns.

      What was the date of your tour?
      August 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      1 other
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens, Families with young kids
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 2/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • Jeffrey Kuhl September 12, 2022

      second tour

      Day 1 - 3 were fantastic.
      Day 4 was too long partly because of route, a few mistakes and a long detour to local bike repair shop. Broken seat was replaced quickly, but caused 3 or 4 stops to attempt to tighten seat with tools that didn't fix the problem. I could only ride a short distance before stopping to flatten seat. The issue was a broken ratchet that had to be replaced. Local tour company worked to find repair and notify them I would be there. I arrived right before closing.
      Day 5 I just wanted it to be over.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 3
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Much harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 3/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 3/5 Route selection
    • Rebecca Heersink August 6, 2022

      Great family vacation

      We completed this tour with our 2 year old in the infant trailer. The route provided great stops for everyone in the family including great playgrounds for the little one and wine/beer for mom and dad. We enjoyed visiting castles, small medival towns and cable cars rides. The bike riding was manageable but pulling the bike trailer in the heat wave did prove hard some days, maybe an ebike would have helped in retrospect. Hotels were nice and all provided an infant bed. Can't wait to do another cycling tour!

      What was the date of your tour?
      July 2022
      How many tours have you completed?
      First one
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Families with teens, Families with young kids
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      •  (photo by Rebecca Heersink)
      •  (photo by Rebecca Heersink)
      •  (photo by Rebecca Heersink)
      •  (photo by Rebecca Heersink)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • Jessica McAdam August 5, 2022

      Castle Heaven!

      We loved nearly everything about this trip! The route was perfect! It delivered days of delightful excercise, followed by late afternoons exploring the next lovely overnight stop. Breakfast was always a feast and a deliciously fun way to start each day. We diverged off the path to explore a few castles and were Wowed! One small change could make this THE perfect bike tour: do NOT book lodging in Rudesheim during the annual Harley Festival. Distressingly loud people kept us up all night. It was unbelievably noisy, leaving us sleep deprived—sadly, not a fun night at all.

    • Jim Gr August 21, 2019

      Magnificent Rhine

      Wonderful scenery including vineyards, castles, lovely towns and history dating back to the Roman occupation.
      Well organized, nice hotels, great bike path and directions.

      What was the date of your tour?
      July, 2019
      How many tours have you completed?
      8
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Photo 1 (photo by Jim Gr)
      • Photo 2 (photo by Jim Gr)
      • Koblenz, Germany (photo by Jim Gr)
      • Koblenz, Germany (photo by Jim Gr)
      • Rhine River (photo by Jim Gr)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Richard 69 July 18, 2019

      Gute Fahren along the Rhine

      This was a most picturesque tour along the Rhine. The ride was gentle and we mostly rode on dedicated bike paths. Most of the ride was right along the river except when the path took us through one of the many well preserved medieval towns. The tour company was great and our bikes performed well. Our luggage was always delivered on time. Our maps and printed materials were very helpful, especially the recommendations for restaurants for lunch and dinner. Our hotels were very comfortable and they were all air conditioned. They also served lovely breakfasts. This was a very memorable ride that compared favorably with other European rides that we have taken. I highly recommend this tour.

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 29 - June 5
      How many tours have you completed?
      6
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • luis1957 July 4, 2019

      Wonderful Easy Biking

      The Rhine region of Germany is gorgeous, we enjoyed sunny warm days and relaxed biking. Towns and cities are beautiful and interesting and the people are educated and friendly. The 3* hotels are good and the 3* Superior hotels are excellent. Breakfasts everywhere were really good and there were very good options for dinner wherever we went. The bikes are heavy and bulky but adequate for the trip, the only issue we had was climbing the long steep hill to Eberbach Monastery. The maps are not easy to read, but the route is pretty straightforward. The only challenges are navigating inside the cities and finding some hotels, which is easily done with Google Maps.

      What was the date of your tour?
      June 2019
      How many tours have you completed?
      7
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • One gorgeous day (photo by luis1957)
      • In the woods (photo by luis1957)
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 2/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 3/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Nonickname59 June 14, 2019

      Two wheeled wonder

      Best way to see the sites on the Rhine. Great accommodations along the way.

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 30, 2019
      How many tours have you completed?
      0
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat easier
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Martin June 13, 2019

      Perfect way to experience the Rhine

      This tour was lovely; scenery was outstanding; easy bicycling, mostly next to the Rhine. We lijed the hotel/guest house variety.

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 30-June 4
      How many tours have you completed?
      4
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Families with young kids
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Mute swan on the Rhine (photo by Martin)
      • Romanesque sculpture (photo by Martin)
      • One of many castles (photo by Martin)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 3/5 Route selection
    • Jim Brewer September 25, 2018

      Mainz to Cologne

      The Rhine Valley was beautiful. The hybird bikes were very good. Maps and directions for the tour were very poor at best. Extremely difficult to find Hotels and the key sights mentioned by the tour. We experienced extremely high temperatures but had A/C most nights. The night without A/C resulted in very little sleep and NO biking the next day. The night that they shut off the A/C in the middle of the night resulted into a lot of lost sleep. Bottom line even with average high temperatures you need A/C every night and all night long.
      Others on the same tour with the same maps etc also had difficulties finding the Hotels each evening.

      What was the date of your tour?
      22 Jul 18--28 Jul 18
      How many tours have you completed?
      1
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Do you recommend this tour?
      No
      • 1/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 2/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 1/5 Ease of navigation
      • 1/5 Tour documents
      • 2/5 Local tour company services
      • 3/5 Route selection
    • Lillee September 17, 2018

      Greatest family vacation!

      Rhine biking is perfect combo of castles, beauty, history, food, beer/wine, and fun! Great exercise, not strenuous biking. Four college-age kids and three parents--something for all everyday. We will be back for another trip!

      What was the date of your tour?
      7/23/18
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat easier
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • MikeSue5052 September 5, 2018

      The Rhine is a very busy river!

      We were enthralled with the amount of river traffic going in both directions. Barges and river tour boats, constantly plying the wide river. Of course, the historical locations, from castles to churches, are numerous all along the river.

      What was the date of your tour?
      July 2018
      How many tours have you completed?
      6
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, Families with young kids, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Germania (photo by MikeSue5052)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • louis16 July 1, 2018

      Great Trip down the Rhine

      We had a fantastic first bike tour. The hotels in general were well appointed. One hotel had staff that did not know any English which made communication a challenge but we managed. The castles were amazing. The routes are well laid out and easy to follow even if you do no know German.

      What was the date of your tour?
      6/17/2018
      How many tours have you completed?
      0
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Badgers September 27, 2017

      WONDER-FUL trip!

      Despite chilly temperatures and rain we thoroughly enjoyed our Rhine River self guided tour. The hotels were comfortable, the breakfasts were top-notch and the route took us through so much beautiful scenery.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 12-17, 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      1
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson, Founder and president September 28, 2017

        Thank you for the feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed your Rhine tour!

      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Hermann August 17, 2017

      Great tour

      What was the date of your tour?
      24 - 07/ 30- 07
      How many tours have you completed?
      my first
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat easier
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      No
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • bike beasty August 10, 2017

      A perfect first tour!

      This tour definitely met with our expectations, and was thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. The information given beforehand was really comprehensive and the recommendations for meals and excursions really helpful. This was bought as a 70th birthday present for my husband and he/we had a great time! A bottle of bubbly awaited him on the first evening of the ride, as a present from the company, which he was very touched by! We were very lucky with the weather too, so all in all a great little adventure!

      What was the date of your tour?
      10/07 - 16/07/2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      just this one
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Zacthecat June 28, 2017

      Great fun rolling down the river

      As a group of four, 2 couples in our early 60s, we self-guided down the Rhine. Three of us had e-bikes and one did it the old fashioned way. We all loved the riding and we were lucky with the weather, which was fine and mostly sunny.
      The information provided was very good, but we recommend a better description of how to find the hotels. In two cases the hotel wasn't on the map, so that needs to be improved. Perhaps draw a coloured line from the bike path to the hotel, with a different colour for each hotel.

      What was the date of your tour?
      12th - 17th June 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      5
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 3/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • jackie20 May 26, 2017

      Good trip

      Most hotels were excellent, however two (in St Goar and Bad Godesberg) had our rooms on either the second or third floor and no elevators. Best hotel and service were at the Baron in Rudesheim. In addition, the maps and directions to hotel in Bad Godesberg and Cologne were poor. Lastly, recommend sightseeing trip to Monastery Eberbach include distance, we never found the place after riding 10km. Overall, good trip.

      What was the date of your tour?
      14 May 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      5
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat easier
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 3/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 1/5 Ease of navigation
      • 2/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Julius August 28, 2016

      Lovely ride

      I decided on the spur of the moment to treat myself to a bike tour. The Mainz to Cologne route appealed to me because I did it by boat many years ago. It was one of the most enjoyable holidays I've ever had. The scenery was impressive, the ride was nice and easy and the hotels were sufficiently comfortable. Having done bike trips before where I carted my own luggage it was an absolute luxury to have my luggage looked after by the tour company. This was done in a very efficient way. The trip is quite easy. Before this, the last time I was on a bike for more than 10km was about 10 years ago. I had no problems, other than some saddle soreness after the first day. I would recommend proper cycling shorts, that makes life in the saddle a little easier.

      What was the date of your tour?
      14-19 August 2016
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • krpete July 12, 2016

      60th Birthday Celebration

      My wife took me on this beautiful Rhine bike ride for my 60th birthday. What a great way to experience Germany first hand! All of the bed-and-breakfast-style hotels were wonderful, clean and well-apportioned. Breakfast in the morning always had a great selection of foods, leaving us well-energized each day to hit the trail. We rode at our own pace every day, stopping on a whim to look at this, that, and the other thing. We toured castles, Roman ruins, shopped (the panniers were large enough to accommodate most items we bought), ate snacks and lunch, and took advantage of any and all photo ops. At the end of each afternoon we had time to do a walking tour of each town we stayed in, eat a stellar dinner and then have a hot shower and a good night's rest. The weather and temperature were very cooperative, just perfect. We absolutely cannot wait to do this again next spring. We are already planning another BikeTour.com trip to another destination. Best vacay ever!

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 17, 2016
      How many tours have you completed?
      1
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat easier
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • On the ferry crossing the Rhine. (photo by krpete)
      • Typical view from the trail. (photo by krpete)
      • Through the woods. (photo by krpete)
      • Castles everywhere along the route. (photo by krpete)
      • High above the Rhine. Gorgeous! (photo by krpete)
      • Celebrating after another day's ride. (photo by krpete)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 2/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Paulie July 6, 2016

      When the Weather Agrees The Rhine is Beautiful

      Flat, well-marked path. Castles. Wine. Beer. Friendly hotel staffs. For what more could I ask?
      If possible opt-out of the dinner package, restaurants in all towns visited are plentiful. The menu selection available is very limited and beverages are not included in the price of dinner.

      What was the date of your tour?
      June 2016
      How many tours have you completed?
      0
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Much easier
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • JustBob June 7, 2016

      Land of Castle, Cruise Ships and Barges

      After 18 day on a bus tour, a self-guided bike tour along the Rhine was a perfect way to regain some solitude. The tough decision were which of t many historic towns, castles and churches to sit and visit, and what kind of pastry go best with with late morning beer! It would be even better if the Bikeline guide we available in English.

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 23 - 29, 2016
      How many tours have you completed?
      3
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Mid-morning Apfelstrudel with beverage (photo by JustBob)
      • Just another pretty castle along the Rhine (photo by JustBob)
      • 4/5 Value
      • 3/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • 2travelers November 5, 2015

      Loved every minute

      This was our first bike vacation and didn't know what to expect, we loved every minute! We chose Bike Tours Direct because they allowed us to change the itinerary to include 2 extr days in Lorch, the town that shares my husbands family name! After all this was his 60th birthday trip. We had a magically stay in Lorch, met the Mayor who gave us the town flag and put our picture on their FB page! Fun.
      We never saw the team that picked up our luggage, but sure enough our bags were always waiting for us at our next stop. The entire bike trip was beatiful, historical and we can't wait to go again.
      Thanks Bike Tours Direct, you rock!

      How many tours have you completed?
      1
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Much easier
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Families with teens, Solo travelers, Families with young kids, First-time bike tourists
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Alan October 28, 2015

      The trip was perfect

      All the hotel owners were great, the documentation on where to go was sufficient, and I had an absolute fantastic time.

      How many tours have you completed?
      0
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Families with teens, Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection

    Rhine Bike Path

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